Electron device



Aug. 2, 1932. c, HORN 1,869,896

ELECTRON DEVI CE Filed NOV. 7. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CZar-ence A. Horn 34507- 7 BY I Aug. 2, 1932. c. A. HORN ELECTRON DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EVENT (R Clarence 4. am,

RNEY

l. HCBH, or Imam ,nilncrnon nnvrcn Application m d'xt einber 7,1930; arm 101mm.

Thisjinvention relates to electron devices comrising an electron emitting cathode and line ectron receiving anode, andparticularly relates to the electrode supporting structure l,"forlsuch devices.

' Itiisan object of this'inventionto provide an electrode supporting structure adapted to rigidly hold theelectrodes of an electron device in position relative to one another;

5 -Itfiis afurther objectof the invention to rigidly mount theel'ectrod'e having greatest mass so as to prevent its inertia from displacing it with'respe'ct to the other electrodes when the device or the assembl of electrodes 15 or the device with the electrodl es therein are moved suddenly or stopped suddenly as in falling or when struck.

The present invention further contemplates the manufacture of an assembly of electrodes such thatthe same will be subject to the same adversely affecting conditions and will therefore be moved as a unit rather than as individual'partsin case the device is dropped or otherwisemistreated.

Referring 'to the accompanying drawings in' which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughoutthe' several views, Figure 1 is a sectional-elevation ofa screen grid electron device showinglthe electrode 39 assembly therein; i

. Fi of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 isa verticallongitudinal section of the electrode assembly on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

igure i'is a cross-sectional view of the electron assembly on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a sectionalelevation similar to Fig. 1, showing modified construction of electrode assembly, i j

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of. Fig.5 and f 1 i Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the electrode assembly on line 7 71of Fig. 5... In the specific embodiment'of the invention illustrated in said drawings, and referring'particularly to-Figs. 1'to 4 inclusive, reference numeral '1 indicates an envelope, preferably of glass and mounted at, its lower end in appropriate base 2 as usual in the gure 2 is a sect onal plan radio art, said base havin prongs 3, 4, 5,6

and 7 projecting from the ower end thereof. Upstanding within the envelope 1 is a-stem 8, the upper endof which provides a press 9 for mounting a plurality of electrode supports and connections therein. Asf here shown, the electrode supports are arran d to provide one row across the press of e ectrodesup orts 10, 11, 12,13, 14 and 15 and provides ourother supports offset from this row in planes transverse thereto cutting the planeof the main row between the two supports next the ends of the row. These last mentioned supports, rows, are identified b reference numerals 16, 17, 18 and 19. T e electrode assembly is carried by vthese several electrode sup-. ports.

The electrode assembly as here shown comrises asfilament20 illustrated for convenience as of the hairpin type with an insulating coating and included within a. tubular cathode 21 projecting upwardly above thestem preferably in axial alinement therewith and centrallywith respect to the envelope 1.

Around the cathode is a cylindrical control grid 22 preferably formed from a spirally wound wire within which are longitudinal support rods 23, 24 secured to the several convolutions of the grid. Outside ofthis control gridis another cylindrical electrode defining transverse 25 which for convenience will be referred to as an inner screen grid. This inner screen grid is likewise formed from spiral convolu tions ofwirewhich are secured to longitudinal rods; 26, 27 within the said electrode. Beyond this electrode is another'cylindrical electrode 28 which is more specifically identified as an anode. In Figs. 1 to 4 this anode represented as of imperforated material forms an open but otherwise solid walled cylinder. Beyond the anode 28 is another electrode 29 for convenience referredto herein as an outer shield grid. All of these cylindrical electrodes are preferably co-axial with each other, and the cathode extends beyond the other electrodes and has an' emitting exterior surface upon the part thereof within the inner screen grid electrode so that when heated electrons will be emitted as is usual in devices of this sort.

The various supports and connections made for and between the several electrodes constitutes a feature of the present invention. As here shown, an insulatory plate 30 is provided at the upper end of the cathode transverse theroto and having a hole in the center thereof through which the cathode may project with a fitting engagement. This same plate likewise has several other holes through which, the control grid supporting rods and the inner screen grid supporting rods project with fitting engagement. These several parts will therefore be held against any relative transverse movement by virtue of the engagement thereof in the said insulatory plate 30. Below the insulatory plate and above the upper end of the anode IS a conductive plate 31. This conductive plate has an opening substantially the diameter of the inner screen grid, and has a pan of upturned ears 32 at the center opening which engage longitudinally against the supporting rods 26, 27 of the inner screen grid, these ears preferably being welded to said rods. The upper ends of the ears conveniently act as rests or stops upon which the insulatory plate 30 may scat. Said insulatoryplate is held in this seated position by suitable means, such as cross-bars 33 resting upon the sald 1nsulatory plate and laterally against the support rods 26, 27 to which they may be welded.

The outer edge of the conductlve plate 31 has an upturned cylindrical rim 34 of a diameter such that said rim fits within the outer screen grid 29, these parts being welded together. Preferably the upstandlng rim is bent outwardly forming a peripheral flange above the end of the screen grid. It will accordingly be observed that I have provided a very rigid support or connection between the outer screen grid, the inner screen grid,

the control grid and the cathode so that none of these parts can vary its relationship to any of the other parts.

At the lower end of the electrode assembly the cathode is carried by an arm 35 upon the support 14 from the press, and the inner screen grid is carried from an opposite support .11 by welding the same to one of the longitudinal supports in the said grid, here shown as support 27. In this connection it will be understood that the filament 20 is connected to two of the supports from the press, namely 12 and 13, these two supports being at the middle of the press and the cathode and inner screen grid support being next beyond on opposite sides of the filament supports. Above the arm 35 supporting the cathode is provided a metallic plate 36 suitably apertured with clearance around the cathode and with tabs 37 for engaging the inner screen grid rods and obtaining a welded attachment of said plate to said rods. Above this plate is an insulating member 38 which is in engagement with said rods as by longitudinal grooves in the outer surface of said member and also in engagement with the cathode by virtue of a fitting hole through the said memr her. One of the grid supporting rods projects downwardly into a socket in this insulating member and thereby obtains a secure attachment and permanent relationship for the said grid. It will accordingly be observed that this arrangement obtains a very fixed relationship at the lower ends of the electrodes for the cathode, control grid and inner screen grid with a double bracing from the press by means of support rods 11 and 14.

The anode is rigidly supported by the two extreme support rods 10 and 15 projecting from the press. These rods extend upwardly 1n grooves formed in the outer surface of the anode and are welded thereto. The anode has relatively less mass than the outer screen grid or the assembly of the various electrodes other than the anode, and accordingly the likelihood of displacing the anode by inertia is less than the likelihood of displacing the assembly of other electrodes.

The lower end of the outer screen grid is supported by novel means in the present disclosure, the same comprising a collar 39 fitting around the lower margin of the outer screen grid and having depending flanges 40 at opposite portions of the periphery extending below the screen grid with the ends of the flanges bent inwardly beneath the screen grid and beneath the anode. These mturned ends of the flanges, for convenience referred to as braces 41, are brought into tangential engagement with the several upstandmg supports 16, 17, 18 and 19 heretofore described as defining planes transverse to the row of supports projecting from the press. These braces 41 are held as by welding to these supports, and therefore obtain not only a means for holding the screen grid and conneoted parts in position above the stem but also brace the same so they will remain axially of the stem.

If so desired, the outer screen grid may be constructed so that the said braces are an integral part thereof. Exemplifying this modification, reference is directed to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 wherein the analogous parts have thesame reference numerals as heretofore utilized, but in which the outer screen grid is designated by reference numeral 42, the same having depending flanges 43 integral therewith, these flanges in turn having inwardly directed braces 44 integral with the flanges and with the shield grid. These braces 44 are welded or otherwise carried by the upstanding supports 16, 17, 18 and 19 as heretofore described.

In the showing made in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. a furth r modification is likewise illustrated wherein the outer shield grid is constructed of sheet metal bent to form a cylinder, said sheet metal having perforations 45 therein thereby providing a shield grid with a permissible circulation for purposes of manufacture of the device such that it will not trap gases therein which it is desired to exclude. In these figures, I have also illustrated an anode 46 of foraminous material in contrast to the previouslyv described anode which was of imperforate material. I find such an anode gives very good results, reduces the mass thereof so as to correspondingly reduce the inertia of the anode and obtain a greater assurance of the anode remaining in co-axial relationship to the other electrodes. Furthermore, by use of a foraminous anode the gases within the device are more effectively excluded during the course of manufacture. The anode properly receives the electrons even though it is foraminous, and I find the device operates with very good results.

Obviously detail changes and modifications may be made in the construction and use of my improved electron device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction shown or described except as set forth in the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. An electron device comprising an outer screen grid, a transverse plate at the top of said grid having upturned ears, an insulating plate resting on said ears, and other electrodes carried by said insulating plate and thereby definitelyspaced with' respect to the said screen grid.

inwardly with respect thereto for mounting said flange and screen grid in said device.

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of October, 1930, at Newark, New Jersey.

CLARENCE A. HORN.

2. An electron device comprising an outer screen grid, other electrodes mounted within sa1d screen grld, and substantially chordal means at the bottom of said screen grid for supporting and bracing the same so as to hold the screen grid in definite relationship to the other electrodes.

3. An electron device comprising an outer screen grid, a flange at the lower end ofsaid screen nd extending longitudinally thereof, and su stantially chordal braces from the said flange by which the screen grid may be mounted and held in position.

4. An electron device comprising a screen grid, a collar on the lower end of said screen rid, flanges depending from said collar, and races projecting from said collar for mounting sai screen grid in the electron device.

5. An electron device comprisin an outer screen grid having an inte ally ormed depending flange, and braces integral with said flange and shleld id for mounting said shield grid in said dh vice. 6. An electron device com rising an outer screen grid having a depen fig flan e, and braces at the bottom of said ange directed 

